Sarah Palin: D.C. a 'hot mess'

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin outlined her disdain for Washington political culture in a speech Saturday morning, denouncing Democrats’ “religious faith in the power of government” and calling D.C. a “hot mess.”

“The problem is government grown so big that it intrudes into every aspect of our lives. It’s grown so arrogant that it thinks we work for it instead of it works for us,” she said at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” conference in D.C. “The problem is, that these politicos with these religious faith in the power of government and elitist disdain for the rights of people … the scandals infecting this city, they are a symptom of a bigger disease.”

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Palin spoke on the final day of the three-day gathering of social conservatives, a crowd by which she’s always been well-received. Her speech comes after Fox News announced that the former vice presidential candidate, who has kept somewhat of a lower profile this year, is returning to the network as a commentator.

In discussing the recent IRS and NSA scandals, she made reference to Saturday Night Live’s “Really?!” segment, where they “read some completely absurd news report and then finish it with an incredulous, ‘really?’”

“Our government’s spying on every single one of your phone calls but couldn’t find two pot-smoking deadbeat Bostonians with a hotline to terrorist central in Chechnya – really?” she said, referring to the two men connected to the Boston marathon bombings in April.

Palin also made reference to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s comments yesterday that immigration reform is necessary because immigrants are “more fertile,” saying that way of discussing the issue “dangerous territory.”

“And I say this as someone that’s kind of fertile myself,” she quipped.

The former governor and vice presidential candidate made reference to her many critics, saying dealing with criticism is “something I do well.”

“What gives them away is that ‘Re-elect Obama’ bumper sticker,” she said. “That bumper sticker might as well say, yeah, I’m still dense.”

As for the United States’ involvement in conflicts in the Middle East, Palin said until the country has a president “who knows what they’re doing, I say let Allah sort it out.”

Palin said she was encouraged by the attendance at the conference, and said the event gave her “great hope” for the country.

“Not only do you value your freedom, but you are willing to fight for it,” she said. “…We can’t count in our politicians in Washington D.C. to do this for us.”